Living to make much of Jesus

Risky Faith

Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you… (Je 1:17).

Fear gripped my entire body. It was as if my jaw became locked and I couldn’t move. The only thing I could think to do was to turn away and walk the other direction. The thought of sharing my faith with someone became overwhelmingly terrifying. All I could say to myself was, “I can’t do this.”

I spun myself around, started to take a step away from the door as something rose up inside of me saying, “But God can!” I spun myself back around, approached the door and had a great conversation with a young lady about Jesus.

Sometimes, actually, more often than not, God will challenge us to to hard things. They are not hard in His mindset, but in our struggle against sin, they seem monumentally difficult.

Imagine with me for a moment a buffet line. The last portion of the line is hidden to the human eye, but the server told you that the best food lies there. You must ask for a helping from the master chef and he serves you a portion. Yet, you never venture to the unseen, because you are uncertain of what will come from the master chef’s hand, so you stick with a hot dog to play it safe. You never experience the grand feast. You would rather be comfortable knowing what you are about to receive, then take a risk to receive from the hand of the master chef.

A great reward awaits those who are willing to stand up and do whatever the master has commanded them. There are hidden joys, unfolding mysteries and a bounty that awaits the faithful.

Faith is something we practice. Practicing risky faith does not come natural. When we practice such faith, we unleash the blessing and the power of God on our life. God’s blessing doesn’t come in the comfort of little smokies and mac and cheese. It comes when we step out in faith to receive from the masters hand. Little did we know, a feast lies there, if we would be willing to trust Him.

I believe one of the reasons the Christian church lacks power is because it lacks a willingness to do hard things. People don’t take risks with the Lord. Now, don’t run around ahead of God taking your own risks without His hand leading you to do so, that is foolishness wrapped in your own guise of faithfulness.

We can easily remain comfortable with our Christian faith and our ticket to heaven. We never actually practice risky faith. Therefore, never unlocking the power and blessing of God from a realm we have never seen before, because we do not want to leap out into waters out of our control.

Lord, I have not always practiced risky faith. It is because I like my comforts. I like to know what the future holds and I like to be in control. Yet, I want to live differently. I want to live in reckless abandon to your cross. I want to feast at your buffet line and experience the unseen. Lord, show yourself strong and mighty in my life, in Jesus name, amen.